The Nordy Pod

What really is the role of a leader at Nordstrom?

What are the inherent qualities of a good manager who promotes a healthy work environment, and ultimately builds a better business?

Well, it’s not about having all the answers, and it’s not about bossing people around.

You’ve heard us mention before on the podcast the concept of the inverted pyramid. We didn’t invent the idea, but it’s something that the third generation of Nordstroms adopted, and something that we swear by to this day.

At Nordstrom, we believe that the most important people in our company are the ones that interact with customers every single day, and we expect our leaders to support them, remove obstacles in their way, and to empower and enable them to be accountable for great results. We encourage managers to lift people up, to bring their best authentic self to work every day, to sell more, to treat customers great, and to take advantage of the opportunities that are inherent in our business.

For Part 6 of our 125th Anniversary series, we’re exploring the management philosophy that’s built our company, brick by brick – from Department Managers to Store Managers, Regional Managers to executive team members – mentors, and service gurus that share hard-earned lessons gleaned from years of experience in stock rooms, sales-floors, and beyond.

None of it is too complicated, but it all culminates in a place where we can develop people to help make the business better – and that starts with valuing them, trusting them, enabling them, and allowing them to make an impact.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 110. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

We never really tire of telling stories of satisfied Nordstrom customers. And if you’ve listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you’ll know this to be true.

You’ve also likely heard either Pete, or any number of our incredible people profess, with unwavering certainty, that improving customer service is the key ingredient to our long-term success.

Now, we don’t always get it right – and we hope that we’ve made that abundantly clear — but when we do, when we learn about someone in our company who’s completely laser-focused on customer satisfaction and exhibits the characteristics that bring that to life, you can bet we’re going to light that billboard up internally for all of our people to see.

So, as we continue this year’s celebration of Nordstrom's 125th Anniversary, for Part 5 in our series, we’ve put together a highlight reel of service stories directly from our people, past and present, who’ve woven their own thread into the tapestry that is our service reputation.

If anyone listening is curious about what makes for a satisfied customer, don’t reach for the handbook, because there isn’t one. At Nordstrom, we let the stories speak for themselves.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 109. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

In this episode we’re pulling back the curtain on a part of our business that we haven’t spent much time talking about on the podcast—which is ironic, because it has everything to do with how we talk—and that’s Communications.

Specifically, we’re talking about how we here at Nordstrom think about developing and refining a unified “voice”, so to speak, for the company, and the decisions around how and when that voice gets deployed to our various different audiences, internally and externally—which includes the people that work for us, our brand partners, and of course, our customers.

To help us unpack this subject we’ll hear from two people who speak the Nordstrom language better than just about anyone.

First, you’ll hear from Brooke White, who previously led our Corporate Communications for over 30 years and who played a huge part in shaping the necessary conversations in and around our company.

After that I’ll sit down with Grace Stearns, our current Senior Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, who has actually herself made a handful of cameos on the Nordy Pod. She’s been an incredible addition and asset to the team, and continues to be a trusted sounding board for Pete, Erik, and the rest of the corporate office.

Together they’ll discuss the essential role our Communications team plays in telling the story of our brand, lessons learned through pivotal moments in our growth, and some of the challenges that arise for our PR professionals as they attempt to filter the many voices of Nordstrom down to one.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 108. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

You grew up playing with them. You’ve shared them with your kids. And now, the brands we all know and love are flying off the shelves and into our hearts through every form of entertainment imaginable.

Because Mattel isn’t just making toys anymore—It’s building worlds.

Worlds shaped by brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno, Masters of the Universe, and so much more!

Ynon Kreiz, CEO of Mattel, has led the charge in transforming this 80+ year-old, iconic company into a modern and culturally relevant behemoth, by reimagining the narrative and elevating the possibilities of play for all ages.

In this episode Pete and Ynon discuss the persistent power of Mattel’s legacy brand portfolio, the role of world-class partnerships in building a bigger future, and the growing field of physical play potentially expanding the wanting toy aisles of Nordstrom.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 107. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Air travel may seem like a far cry from the retail world, but as it turns out, Southwest Airlines and Nordstrom have a lot in common in the ways that matter most.

For anyone interested in learning about the essential building blocks of a great customer experience, this conversation—between two CEOs who have built their entire businesses around customer service—crosses industry boundaries and brings humanity to the forefront.

Pete and Bob discover remarkable similarities in their leadership styles and approach to measuring customer satisfaction, evolving to meet ever-changing customer expectations, and nurturing a healthy internal culture that empowers and cares for the people working at all levels of the organization.

Bob describes the incredible attention to detail Southwest gives to each and every touchpoint of the customer journey—from the most tactical and transactional to the most human and personal—because to the customer, it all matters.

Thanks for tuning in to episode 106. We hope you enjoy it!

Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.